Network security is a primary concern within industrial operations because Industry 4.0 is built on connected devices and machines. Operational technology networks ensure the safety of industrial operations by continually monitoring them. They also help to support infrastructures such as manufacturing, defense utilities, and more. The increasing use of IIoT and cloud technology has led to cybersecurity risks that didn’t exist only a few years ago.

OT Networks, Industry 4.0, And The Internet Of Things

Operational technology (OT) uses a combination of hardware and software to perform real-time operations such as monitoring and controls within an industrial setting. An OT network works at the industrial level to process the operational data of any organization.

Industry 4.0 has brought about a new era of manufacturing that relies on connected machines that communicate with one another. These networked components make up what we call the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Essentially, Industry 4.0 describes an environment where IIoT smart machines work together to optimize manufacturing procedures. The result is a potential improvement to several key manufacturing processes:

• Logistics and supply chains can self-adjust to changing conditions like weather delays.
• Equipment and vehicles are being automated to accept shipping containers from ships and road-based cargo trailers.
• Robotics are benefitting from autonomous tech - factory robots can complete more tasks that reduce costs and optimize warehouse floor space.

Network Security Risks In An OT Environment

Industry 4.0 era manufacturing tech is every bit as vulnerable to network security breaches as a corporate network. Employees can inadvertently expose the network to exploitation by skilled hackers, leaving manufacturing data insecure.

Because supply chains are increasingly integrated, third-party contractors and vendors frequently need access to client data. This has increased the attack surface of the manufacturing network as suppliers and service providers are granted access to sensitive information.

Disruption to the manufacturing process is another risk unique to OT network environments. Data loss can be damaging in the long run, but hackers who gain control over these environments can slow down or even stop active production immediately.

The potential costs of a cyberattack, including damage to company finances and reputations, can be extremely high. Managed services from RAVENii can minimize that risk.

Mitigating OT Network Security Risks With Managed Services

Implementing a security platform that supports an evolving (as opposed to static) network baseline using unsupervised AI is critical to catching anomalous behavior and avoiding attacks. Managed services that employ anomaly detection across SCADA and automated manufacturing network devices and correlation with alerts on the corporate network mitigate the risk of an impactful breach.

RAVENii offers managed services such as our SIEM Wave 3 Solution, which is powered by MixMode and is the only solution on the market utilizing 3rd Wave Artificial Intelligence. MixMode is a revolutionary AI-focused Cybersecurity Company using patented third-wave AI originally developed for projects at DARPA and the DoD. MixMode’s AI-Powered Network Traffic Analytics Platform provides deep network visibility and predictive threat detection capabilities, enabling efficient real-time and retrospective threat detection and visualization.

For more information about securing your OT network, click here or call (844) 317-0944.